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Painting a window sill.
- First scrape off all plaster, dirt and bits sticking to the sill especially the underneath of the overhang.
- Rub down with medium sandpaper, then dust thoroughly.
- Apply knotting (with a small brush or a soft piece of rag) to any knots and resinous areas.
- Primer can be applied straight away as knotting dries almost immediately. Oil-based primer is better thinned with white spirit as it does not need a thick coat. Acrylic primer can be used straight from the tin.
- Allow oil-based primer 24 hours to dry; water-based primer 3 to 4 hours.
- Fill all holes and damaged parts with a proprietary filler such as Polyfilla or Tetrion. Deep holes may have to be filled more than once. Filling can also be done with linseed oil putty. Combining both methods of filling is often best.
- Joints showing between the window frame and the sill can be filled using a mastic-gun applying Decorators Caulk. Caulking can be applied after the undercoat as it can be glossed over.
- Don't apply caulking until after sanding down is completed.
- When the filler is dry sand down and dust off.
- Apply one coat of undercoat (two coats are recommended for new wood.)
- Allow up to 24 hours to dry.
- When the undercoat is dry, sand down lightly with a fine sandpaper, dust off and apply one coat of finish.(Gloss or Satin).